Help:Creating a template

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These are for use as, or in, definition lines, where the definition desired is simply "alternative spelling of something", "past-tense of something", or the like. If a dedicated template is not needed, one can use {{form of}} or, for conjugations or declensions, {{inflection of}}.

To create such a template, first decide on its name. If the template is specific to a certain language, it should be named with that language's code and a hyphen, e.g. {{is-conjugation of}}. (Otherwise, it should not start with a language code and a hyphen.) Normally, form-of templates' names end in "of", but some languages' templates do not. (For example, the Lithuanian templates, like {{lt-form-adj}}, do not.)

The content of the template should be

<span class='use-with-mention'>Description of what form the word is of <span class='mention'
>{{{{{sc|Xyzy}}}|lang={{{lang|}}}|{{#if:{{isValidPageName|{{{1}}}}}|[[{{{1}}}#{{language|{{{lang|}}}|{{{1}}}]]|{{{1}}}}}}}</span
></span>

If the template is language-specific, e.g. for Albanian (sq), this should be instead:

<span class='use-with-mention'>Description of what form the word is of <span class='mention'
>{{{{{sc|Xyzy}}}|lang={{{lang|sq}}}|{{#if:{{isValidPageName|{{{1}}}}}|[[{{{1}}}#{{language|{{{lang|sq}}}|{{{1}}}]]|{{{1}}}}}}}</span
></span>

In either case, this can be adjusted to allow for various parameters, such as some which regulate capitalization of the first letter, existence of a final period (full stop), etc. It can also be adjusted for parameters specific to the template, such as gender, dialect, register, tense, etc. The above is a bare-bones template. Please announce any new form-of template in the Grease pit.

To create such a template, first decide on its name. It should begin with the prefix U:. If the template is specific to a certain language, it should next have that language's code; for example, the template which explains the usage of the English words less and fewer is Template:U:en:less and fewer.[1]

The content of the template should simply be the text to display as a usage note. An initial asterisk may or may not be included within the template.

Users are encouraged to indicate language proficiency by the usae of Babel boxes; they may also indicate proficiency in various writing systems. Some users also indicate time zone. Other user boxes are forbidden by vote.

To create a language-proficiency box, first decide on the proficiency level: 0 (none), 1 (basic), 2 (intermediate), 3 (advanced), 4 (proficient or near-native), or N (native). the template will then be named [[template:User language code-0]] through [[template:User language code-4]] or, for native, [[template:User language code]] alone.